[Pink and White Tyranny by Harriet Beecher Stowe]@TWC D-Link bookPink and White Tyranny CHAPTER XXVII 20/26
I know that Lillie is a most undeveloped and uncongenial person; I know how little you have in common: but your duties are the same as if she were the best and the most congenial of wives.
It is every man's duty to make the best of his marriage." "But, Gracie," said John, "is there any thing to be made of her ?" "You will never make me believe, John, that there are any human beings absolutely without the capability of good.
They may be very dark, and very slow to learn, and very far from it; but steady patience and love and well-doing will at last tell upon any one." "But, Gracie, if you could have heard how utterly without principle she is: urging me to put my property out of my hands dishonestly, to keep her in luxury!" "Well, John, you must have patience with her.
Consider that she has been unfortunate in her associates.
Consider that she has been a petted child all her life, and that you have helped to pet her. Consider how much your sex always do to weaken the moral sense of women, by liking and admiring them for being weak and foolish and inconsequent, so long as it is pretty and does not come in your way. I do not mean you in particular, John; but I mean that the general course of society releases pretty women from any sense of obligation to be constant in duty, or brave in meeting emergencies.
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